Name: 1st Sunday Concert Dostluk Friendship
Start: 2026-09-20T11:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-20T11:00:00+02:00
Location: Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche

A Sunday between East and West in the Heilig-Kreuz Church

With the 1st Sunday Concert “Dostluk (Friendship)”, the Heilig-Kreuz Church in Gelsenkirchen opens its doors on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 11:00 AM for a program that builds musical bridges. The main focus is a concert morning by the Neue Philharmonie Westfalen featuring works that lie in the tension between European classical music and Turkish-influenced sounds, including Mozart with “alla turca” references, compositions by Sinem Altan, and the expressive Bağlama art of Erdal Akkaya. The city portal states that admission starts at 16.00 Euros. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/_meta/veranstaltungskalender/96472-1-sonntagskonzert-dostluk-freundschaft?utm_source=openai))

Sound colors that dissolve borders

This Sunday concert draws on the entire magic of the live atmosphere: Strings, melodic arcs, and the special orchestration meet the warm, narrative voice of the Bağlama. The program idea refers to the cultural exchange between Europe and Turkey, which gains an additional historical resonance in the anniversary year of the German-Turkish guest worker agreement. It is precisely the combination of classical form and oriental-tinged musical language that makes the charm of this concert experience. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/_meta/veranstaltungskalender/96472-1-sonntagskonzert-dostluk-freundschaft?utm_source=openai))

The Heilig-Kreuz Church as a stage space with character

The Heilig-Kreuz Church in Ückendorf is one of the most distinctive buildings in the city: The listed building was constructed from 1927 to 1929 according to designs by Josef Franke and is considered an outstanding example of early modernism. Today, the converted church space serves as a unique venue that connects music with architecture and acoustics. Accessible parking spaces are designated for visitors in Gelsenkirchen, and the city refers to a well-developed network of parking garages, parking spaces, and public transportation offers. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Infrastruktur/Stadtplanung/Stadterneuerung_Gelsenkirchen/Bochumer_Strasse/Umbau_Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche.aspx?utm_source=openai))

Music with attitude and history

The Neue Philharmonie Westfalen has been shaping the cultural landscape of the Ruhr area since its founding in 1996 and is firmly established in the region's musical life as a state orchestra. Under the direction of principal conductor Rasmus Baumann and through its diverse concert activities, the ensemble represents precise conducting, stylistic openness, and a stage performance that combines symphonic tradition with new perspectives. This mix fits perfectly for this Sunday concert: professional authority, tonal sensitivity, and a program that goes far beyond an ordinary matinee concert. ([recklinghausen.de](https://www.recklinghausen.de/Inhalte/Startseite/Ruhrfestspiele_Kultur/Neue_Philharmonie_Westfalen/index.asp?utm_source=openai))

Those who want to experience music as a meeting will find a strong event here: a concert morning with cultural depth, emotional tension, and an extraordinary location. The audience can look forward to finely balanced sound moments, vibrant solo passages, and an atmosphere in which tradition and present audibly intertwine. A live experience that is not only heard but felt. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/_meta/veranstaltungskalender/96472-1-sonntagskonzert-dostluk-freundschaft?utm_source=openai))